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25 Places To Visit In 2013

We couldn’t be more excited about the destinations on our 25 Places To Visit In 2013. Our Forbes Travel Guide editors spent months researching to find this year’s must-hit places around the globe, which include everything from life-changing treks through Tibet and India to cultural excursions through Berlin and Northern California. Read on for a glimpse at the spots that made our top 25 list.

Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, photo by Myra-May

Amsterdam This year is shaping up to be huge in Amsterdam—if you’ve never traveled to this Dutch city there’s never been a better time. The Dutch will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Amsterdam also marks the 400th anniversary of its famous canals, which are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But those aren’t the only festivities: The city’s landmark Concertgebouw building and orchestra commemorates 125 years with several special concerts and in May, the Van Gogh Museum reopens after an eight-month renovation just in time to celebrate its 40th anniversary (and the 160th birthday of the artist). But perhaps the pièce de résistance is the famed Rijksmuseum finally opens in April after an extensive 10-year renovation. Click here to see all 25 Places To Visit in 2013.

London Celebration, photo courtesy iStock-oversnap

LondonLondon is always abuzz with happenings and we’re thrilled it’s Forbes Travel Guide’s newest city for star ratings—we announce those in March so stay tuned. Also in March, Victoria & Albert Museum hosts the first international retrospective of David Bowie’s career in the David Bowie is exhibit. It features everything from handwritten lyrics to the superstar’s own instruments. The much-anticipated View from The Shard will welcome visitors to the 68th, 69th and 72nd floors of the Renzo Piano-designed high-rise in February—now the tallest in Europe—and the Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard, London is slated to debut in late 2013 as the brand’s first U.K. outpost. If you plan a trip before the opening, book a room at The Lanesborough, and make reservations at foodie Ariane Daguin’s favorite restaurant, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. Click here to see all 25 Places To Visit in 2013.

San Francisco's Lombard Street, photo courtesy iStock x of 711

San Francisco It’s going to be a big year for San Francisco. First, you will be able to see renowned artist Leo Villareal’s The Bay Lights sculpture unveiled on the Bay Bridge with the Grand Lighting on March 5. (It will display across the bridge’s west span for two years.) You’ll also want to hit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art before it closes on June 2 for a two-year, $555 million expansion. During the closure, SFMOMA will co-organize exhibitions with partner museums throughout the city, including Beyond Belief: 100 Years of the Spiritual in Modern Art, which will be on view from June 27 to Oct. 27 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Of course, 2013’s not all about art: The City by the Bay was selected to host the 34th America’s Cup, as well—the first time a U.S. city has hosted since 1995. Book a room at Tastemaker Ming Tsai’s favorite San Francisco hotel, Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco, and you’ll have prime views of the course in San Francisco Bay. Click here to see all 25 Places To Visit in 2013.

The Louvre, photo courtesy iStock Ingenui

Paris There’s never a bad time to visit Paris, but if you get to the City of Light before the end of March, book a stay at designer extraordinaire Kelly Wearstler’s favorite spot, Hôtel de Crillon, before its palatial doors close for a two-year restoration. Otherwise, you can wait until later in the year when the much-anticipated Peninsula Paris opens. Just try not to miss when the Paris Opera Ballet School and Paris Opera Ballet pair up to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the school in April. Also, Opéra Garnier will honor the bicentenary of two great 19th-century composers—Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi—with concerts such as Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung andVerdi’s Falstaff. And before you leave Ivanka Trump’s favorite city, dine at at L’Ami Louis and see why it’s a favorite of Tastemakers chef Tom Douglas and hotelier Jason Pomeranc. Click here to see all 25 Places To Visit in 2013.

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